What is the history of Asperger’s?
Asperger’s syndrome (also known as Asperger’s Disorder) was first described in the 1940s byViennese pediatrician Hans Asperger, who observed autism-like behaviors and difficulties with social and communication skills in boys who had normal intelligence and language development (Autism Society, n.d.). Many professionals felt Asperger’s syndrome was simply a milder form of autism and used the term “high-functioning autism” to describe these individuals (Autism Society, n.d.).
What is the different between Asperger’s and Autism?
What distinguishes Asperger’s Disorder from classic autism are its less severe symptoms and the absence of language delays (Autism Society, n.d.). Children with Asperger’s Disorder may be only mildly affected, and they frequently have good language and cognitive skills (Autism Society, n.d.).
To the untrained observer, a child with Asperger’s Disorder may just seem like a neurotypical child behaving differently (Autism Society, n.d.).Children with autism are frequently viewed as aloof and uninterested in others (Autism Society, n.d.). This is not the case with Asperger’s Disorder. Individuals with Asperger’s Disorder usually want to fit in and interact with others, but often they don’t know how to do it (Autism Society, n.d.).
They may be socially awkward, not understand conventional social rules or show a lack of empathy (Autism Society, n.d.). They may have limited eye contact, seem unengaged in a conversation and not understand the use of gestures or sarcasm (Autism Society, n.d.).
Current Health Stats
No one knows how prevalent an Asperger profile is. Some professionals currently surmise that at least one in every 250 people has an Asperger profile (Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.). The statistics continue to shift. In the late 1990’s, the National Institute of Child Health and Mental Development estimated that 1 in 500 people had some form of AS(Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.).
As the number of individuals touched by the Asperger constellation of traits continued to be recognized, the numbers rose(Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.). Because Asperger diagnosis is now subsumed under the broader umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the DSM 5, an accurate estimate is further obscured(Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.).
According to the CDC’s current data, about 1 in 68 children has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)(Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.). However, there are few studies available that determine what percentage of these individuals would have previously fallen under the designation of Asperger Syndrome(Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.).Dr. Tony Attwood estimates that as many as 50% of people with AS remain undiagnosed, in part because the Asperger traits have only recently been publicly recognized on a broad scale(Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.). Some people with Asperger profiles continue to be misdiagnosed, while others “fly under the radar.” (Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.).That is, they have traits that are mild enough so that they manage to adapt and function sufficiently well to be considered merely eccentric or quirky(Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.). Many Asperger traits blur seamlessly into more typical profiles(Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.).
Some people with Asperger profiles continue to be misdiagnosed, while others “fly under the radar.” (Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.).That is, they have traits that are mild enough so that they manage to adapt and function sufficiently well to be considered merely eccentric or quirky(Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.). Many Asperger traits blur seamlessly into more typical profiles(Asperger/Autism Network, n.d.).
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